CKS merges with USWeb

Published on September 02, 1998.

CKS Group, Cupertino, Calif., and USWeb, Santa Clara, are merging to form a new company, Reinvent Communications. With an estimated $70 million in annual revenue, it will be one of the largest interactive agencies in the U.S. Mark Kvamme will become chairman of the board of Reinvent and Joe Firmage will be CEO. Mr. Kvamme has been chairman-CEO of CKS and Mr. Firmage held the same title at USWeb. Toby Corey, president-chief operating officer of USWeb; Tom Suiter, chief creative officer of CKS; Sheldon Laube, chief technology officer of USWeb; and Carolyn Aver, chief financial officer of USWeb, will take the same roles in the new company. Under the agreement, all shares and options of CKS Group will be exchanged at a ratio of 1.5 shares of USWeb stock to one share of CKS. The new company will have 1,800 employees worldwide.